Zhuangzhuang looked at the empress dowager's angry face and said, "That's right. When we got married, Zi'an did perform the ceremony with the empress's sister-in-law. So, if it wasn't the empress dowager's birthday, there would be no need to kowtow three times and nine times!"
The Empress Dowager's expression became more and more unpleasant. "Well, since we have already performed the ceremony with Empress Dowager Sun, let's forget about it. But your attire is really not in accordance with etiquette. It is too much for a national mourning, and wearing such bright red is disrespectful and unfilial."
Zi'an complained in his heart, is this Empress Dowager here just to cause trouble
I have never seen such a grand ceremony of greeting.
Fortunately, the homework has also achieved this step.
"In reply to the Queen Mother, this is my first time entering the palace to pay my respects to the Queen Mother. If I were to wear something plain, it would be disrespectful to the Queen Mother. If I were to wear something else, it would not seem solemn enough. The court dress of the Regent Princess is not subject to the restrictions of a major funeral. I don't need to explain this, I'm sure the Queen Mother knows it."
The Empress Dowager was startled. Is that the court dress of the Regent Princess
However, she didn't know that the Regent Princess's court dress was like this, and she thought it was the same as the court dress of an ordinary prince or princess.
She didn't expect that after picking it twice, Zi'an bounced back softly each time.
She thought for a moment and said, "Since it is the court dress of the Regent Princess, then it doesn't matter."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your compassion." Zi'an bowed with a respectful look.
The Queen Mother continued, "I have sent a few people to your palace. They were all my trusted people in the past. They will take care of all the affairs in the palace for you. As for the accounts, I will find a proper accountant and retainers for you. They will make sure that Your Majesty can focus on the frontier affairs and not be troubled by the trivial matters in the backyard."
Zi'an sighed, knelt down, and cried, "Empress Dowager, I am guilty!"
The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows, but still looked dignified. "What crime have you committed? Tell me now."
Zi'an took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the corners of his eyes. "Old woman, if you keep being tough, I'll just pretend to be soft with you."
"It's like this. I just came back from Beimo yesterday. After I returned to the mansion, the people sent by the Empress Dowager came forward to greet me. Their attitude was humble and polite. It can be seen that I was really well taught. However, when I was packing my luggage and putting the gifts given by Prince Qi of Beimo back into the warehouse, I found that several pieces of jewelry were missing. At that time, Nanny Liang summoned people from the mansion to question them, but they denied it. If it was an ordinary item, it would be fine. But there was a string of red coral bracelets, which was a gift from the Empress Dowager, and I dared not lose it. , I had no choice but to order a search of the whole mansion. When I started the search, Nanny Liang made many obstacles. I didn't know what to do at first, but in the end, I found all my lost jewelry from under her bed. Everything was there, not a single piece was missing. I was furious. She was given to me by the Empress Dowager. If she did such a petty theft, wouldn't it be an insult to the Empress Dowager? If someone didn't know, they would think that the Empress Dowager had sent her to covet the property of the palace. So, I ordered people to tie her up and send her to the palace for the Empress Dowager to punish her. "
The Queen Mother's eyes popped out when she heard this. "Have you checked carefully? Nanny Liang is not that kind of person."
"To the Empress Dowager, the stolen goods were found from under her bed. As for Madam Liang, I'm afraid she also deceived the Empress Dowager's trust. When I returned to the palace yesterday, Madam Liang and the other maids were indeed courteous and polite at first. But later, when I assigned tasks, she was slightly dissatisfied and beat Madam Yang beside me in front of me. Prince Li and his wife also witnessed this. If the Empress Dowager doesn't believe it, you can ask the princess. Madam Liang is really hateful. I believe she pretended to be humble and docile in front of the Empress Dowager. It's not just her appearance. Once she gets the power, she will rely on her favor to become arrogant and domineering. Fortunately, I have seen through her true colors, so that the Empress Dowager's face will not be damaged."
The Queen Mother was filled with anger and asked sinisterly, "I will definitely interrogate such a wicked person. You said you had escorted her to the palace, but where is she now? Bring her up!"
She was sure that Xia Zian was making up stories to frame her, and if Madam Liang saw her, she would no longer be afraid of her.
Zi'an said, "Come on, bring that treacherous bitch up here."
When she said the words "treacherous and slutty woman", she glanced at the Empress Dowager intentionally or unintentionally, but her expression was very respectful. Although the Empress Dowager was angry, she could not say anything.
At this time, the people in the hall had different expressions.
The queen always maintained a decent and gentle smile on her face. After entering the palace, the empress dowager did not ask them to sit down, so she, like the other concubines, just stood respectfully.
Concubine Yi's expression was somewhat ironic. She didn't even look at Zi'an or the Empress Dowager. She had fought with Xia Zi'an before, and this new Empress Dowager only had a few intimidating moves. If she didn't show her real strength, she would not be able to defeat Xia Zi'an.
Zhuangzhuang had already sat down in a grand manner, looking at the ring on his finger lazily. Then, he stretched out his hand to examine whether the ring was suitable for him. Feeling that it did not match well, he frowned.
Sun Fang'er was like a clay figure. If you didn't look closely, you wouldn't even know whether she was breathing.
There was some anticipation in Concubine Mei's eyes, but also some fear. She held the Third Prince's hand tightly and did not dare to look around.
As for the other concubines, they all had an attitude of watching the show.
After a while, the guards pushed in Nanny Liang, who was tied up tightly. She was covered with wounds and her face was swollen.
When Madam Liang entered the palace, she burst into tears, "Empress Dowager, please save me! I'm about to be beaten to death!"
The Queen Mother was furious, but before she could say anything, she heard Zhuang Zhuang, who had been calm and composed, suddenly change his expression and shouted, "How dare you! The Queen Mother and I are here, and you are shouting without asking any questions. Do you know the rules? Come on, slap me in the face!"
The Queen Mother was furious, "Princess..."
But before she could finish her words, a strong guard came in and slapped Nanny Liang in the face.
The slap caused Madam Liang's head to tilt, a tooth flew out, and blood immediately flowed out of her mouth.
The Queen Mother was furious. "Princess, do you still remember that this is Ai's Yanxi Palace?"
Zhuangzhuang said, "I'm sorry, I can't stand these unruly things. I was angry for a moment and forgot that this is Yanxi Palace, and she was sent by the Empress Dowager. It's up to you, the Empress Dowager, to deal with her."
The Empress Dowager was so angry that her hands were shaking, but she had no choice but to give up because the Grand Princess was of noble status and she could not find any major fault in beating a servant.
She will just keep this tone in mind for now.
She looked at Madam Liang half-lying on the ground and shouted angrily, "Someone, untie her!"
Two people came in from outside the hall, bowed to the Empress Dowager and then stepped forward to untie Nanny Liang. Nanny Liang had just burst into tears and was slapped in the face. Now that she was untied, she did not dare to do anything rash and just cried softly.
Seeing the wounds on her face, the Queen Mother said angrily, "Princess Regent, what you call catching someone red-handed is probably a confession forced under torture, right?"
Zi'an said, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, we arrested him during the search, and no torture was used."
(End of this chapter)